Folding table



H. G. NORWOOD.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.II| 192|.

Patented June 14, 1921.

III"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII II I gma'nto/v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY G. NORWOOD, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 WILLIAM FULD, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Application filed January 11, 1921.' Serial No. 436,453.

To alf whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY G. NoRwooD, a citizen 0f the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, 0f which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tables and has as an object the`provision of a new and improved form of table with legs that may be folded in order that the table may be stored in a small space.

An illustrative embodiment of the inven tion is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side view partly broken away and with a piece removed from one leg to conserve space in the drawing.

Fig. 2 is a detail end view partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the table folded and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of locking member.

As shown the table comprises a top 5 of any suitable character. As a means of securing the legs 6, 7, 8 and 9 to the top 5, downwardly projecting flanges 11 and 12 are secured to the lower surface of the top. These flanges may be formed of wooden strips and are fastened adjacent to the edges of the top.

To provide a foldable mounting for the legs 6, 7 and 8, 9, the pairs designated are each secured to a squared shaft 13, 14 respectively, a brace block 15 being placed in each inner angle between leg and shaft. The shafts 13, 14 may be journaled in the flanges 11, 12, rounded ends 16 being formed on the shafts and entered into sockets in the flanges. The legs 6 and 7 must be spaced from the flanges 11 andl12 a different distance from the legs 8 and 9 in order to make them foldable. As shown the legs 8 and 9 are adapted to lie between the legs 6 and 7 when folded.

To hold the legs in adjusted position, locking members 17, 18 are provided each having a squared recess 19 adapted to fit over the shaft. The locking members are slidable on the shafts and resist movement of the legs by bearing against the table top being given an extended base in Contact with the top, for the purpose.

4To provide for movement of the legs the shafts are formed with rounded portions 20,

21. When a locking member 17 or 18 is moved to a position with the rounded portion 2() or 21 lying in its recess 19 the locking effect is removed and the shaft may be revolved to extend or fold the legs mounted on that shaft. The positions of the shaft when the legs are folded and when extended are separated by 90o of rotation and the sides of the shafts 13, 14 are in the planes of the sides of the recesses 19 when the legs are in either of the desired positions. The

single locking means therefore suffices to j must be alined and therefore would occurl at one of the dotted line positions 23 or 24. The operation of the locking member of Fig. 4 is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3 except that both shafts will be released and locked at the same time when it is used. The one piece form has the advantage of giving greater rigidity of lock since it has a greater bearing surface on the table top.

Among the advantages of the form of table provided by the invention are its simplieity and its durability of locking mechanism. Its manipulation is evident at a glance and there are no small and consequently frail parts to become broken or detached. Its simplicity also results in small expense of manufacture. Minor changes may he made in the physical embodiment of the invention without departing from its spirit.

I claim: t A folding table comprising, in combination, a top, downwardly projecting spaced members secured to said top and having sockets therein, a squared shaft having rounded ends journaled in said sockets, a rounded portion on each shaft, and a locking member having a squared recess adapted to slide upon said shaft said member f1tting against the lower surface of the table top whereby it may be slipped into register with the rounded portion to release the shaft and into engagement with the squared portion to lock the shaft against rotation 1n either one of two positions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY G. NURWOOD. 

